Given how uncompromising, challenging and even sometimes off-putting his films generally are, it’s something of a shock—though pleasant one—that actor-turned-director Brady Corbet has a film that’s essentially leading the awards race this year. His latest is a historical epic drama called “The Brutalist,” about a visionary architect who flees Europe after WWII and heads to America, where his life changes upon meeting a mysterious and wealthy client (read our review).
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“The Brutalist” stars Oscar winner Adrien Brody—who seems like a surefire Best Actor nominee— Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn, Raffey Cassidy, Stacy Martin, Emma Laird, with Isaach De Bankolé, and Alessandro Nivola.
The “Vox Lux” and “Childhood Of a Leader” director co-wrote the film with his partner Mona Fastvold (“The World To Come”).
And the picture is having an outstanding month, arguably greater than any other movie out there today—even more impressive when you consider its challenging 3-and-a-half-hour runtime. Earning seven Golden Globe nominations yesterday—including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor— “The Brutalist” was also recently named Best Film by the New York Film Critics Circle (NYFCC) and honored with Best Production Design by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA).
Here’s the official synopsis:
Escaping post-war Europe, visionary architect László Toth arrives in America to rebuild his life, his work, and his marriage to his wife Erzsébet after being forced apart during wartime by shifting borders and regimes. On his own in a strange new country, László settles in Pennsylvania, where the wealthy and prominent industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren recognizes his talent for building. But power and legacy come at a heavy cost…
The Brutalist” was first announced in 2020, with the original cast including Joel Edgerton, Sebastian Stan, Marion Cotillard, Mark Rylance, and Vanessa Kirby. That version of the film fell apart during the pandemic, but clearly, the film didn’t suffer for it in the least.
“The Brutalist” opens in select theaters on December 20, 2024, via A24. Does the indie studio have another Oscar winner on its hands? We’ll find out in the upcoming months. Until then, check out the new trailer below, which highlights all the film’s recent accolades.